Joel Embiid switched to ‘Bill Russell-like’ defense during his rare off day on offense to help the 76ers stage a perfect comeback

Philadelphia 76ers overcome Joel Embiid's shooting struggles with dominant defense to rally past Memphis Grizzlies.


Joel Embiid switched to ‘Bill Russell-like’ defense during his rare off day on offense to help the 76ers stage a perfect comeback

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Despite a tough start on the offensive end, Joel Embiid’s dominant defence helped lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a comeback victory against the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday. Embiid struggled to find his rhythm in the first half, going 1-for-8 in the first quarter and 2-for-14 through the first half. But he knew that if he was to make an impact, it would have to be on defence.

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Embiid’s final stat line was impressive, with 27 points, 19 rebounds, 6 assists, a steal, and 6 blocks in 38 minutes. His defensive performance was particularly noteworthy, with 17 defensive rebounds and several key blocks and altered shots. Embiid’s defensive efforts helped to hold the Grizzlies to just 105 points, as Philadelphia slowly but surely ground its way back from a 17-point deficit.

Embiid’s struggles on the offensive end were tied for the worst he has ever shot in a quarter in his career on at least that many attempts, while his 2-for-14 performance in the first half was tied for the most shots he has ever missed in a half in his NBA career. However, his defensive efforts were a reminder of the impact he can have on the game even when his shot isn’t falling.

“For me, like I always say, defence is more important for me than offence,” Embiid said. “Even tonight, I could not make any shots, especially the one I usually make. But defensively, I thought I had to be Bill Russell tonight to be able to kind of balance it out.”

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Related: “Haven’t been healthy for the past three weeks, or month” Joel Embiid lifts brutal lid on his status of playing All-Star Game

76ers’ Resilience and Team Effort Seal Victory

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

The Philadelphia 76ers’ victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday was a testament to their resilience and team effort. Despite trailing for nearly the entire game, Philadelphia never gave up and slowly but surely ground its way back.

It was a team effort on the defensive end, with Tobias Harris doing an admirable job giving Ja Morant trouble late in the game, while Embiid patrolled the paint and blocked several key shots. Desmond Bane went 7-for-8 in the first quarter, scoring 19 points to help stake Memphis to a 37-22 lead after the opening 12 minutes, but then shot a combined 3-for-12 over the rest of the game for six points. Morant, one of the game’s best paint scorers, shot 3-for-16 on the night, though he did go 9-for-10 from the free throw line to finish with 15 points.

In the end, it was the combination of James Harden and Embiid that tore through Memphis, with Harden scoring 31 points and assisting on five of the other seven baskets Philadelphia scored in the fourth quarter. Harden praised the team’s resilience, saying that “as much as you don’t want it to happen, it’s part of basketball, not making shots. We were resilient, and we fought and fought and fought and gave ourselves a chance.”

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The 76ers have had a strong season so far, going 27-7 in their past 34 games and 14-3 in their past 17. This has allowed them to pull within striking distance of the East-leading Celtics and the second-place Milwaukee Bucks. However, they face a tough road ahead, with the most difficult schedule remaining in the NBA according to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index.

The team’s success moving forward will depend on Embiid’s health and performance, as well as the continued resilience and team effort that they showed in their victory over the Grizzlies. Embiid said he felt good coming out of the All-Star break and hopes to stay healthy moving forward, emphasizing the importance of rest in the middle of a gruelling season.

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